Dial construction



Nov. 4, 1958 I c. u. DEATON EI'AL 2,353,692

DIAL CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Aug. 3, 1954 Ra \i\\\\\\\ g u v 1m 38 INVENTORS 25-I ClzwrZes aDea/fion a,

| BY Curl D.Grwber '2 n 223 lo F592 ATTORNEYS States Patent DIAL CONSTRUCTION Charles U. Deaton, Kirkwood, Mo., and Carl D. Graber, Orrville, Ohio, assignors to Diebold, Incorporated, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Claims. (Cl. 70332) The invention or discovery relates to dial construction 'for combination locks for vault doors and the like, and the present invention or discovery is a division of the disclosure set forth in the application for United States Letters Patent of Charles U. Deaton and Carl D. Graber, for Vault Door Construction, filed August 3, 1954, Serial No. 447,544.

Dials used to manipulate combination locks for a vault door and the like should be capable of rapid manipulation by an authorized manipulator, with a minimum opportunity for the combination settings to be observed by 'an 'onlooker close to the authorized manipulator.

Combination lock dial constructions in use prior to the present invention or discovery have not been capable of manipulation by authorized manipulators as rapidly as has been desired and an onlooker close to such a manipulator has been able to observe the combination settings with relative ease.

The objects of the present invention or discovery include the provision of an improved dial construction for acombination lock, and which is capable of much more rapid manipulation by an authorized manipulator than has been possible with prior combination lock dial constructions, and the combination settings of which are much more difficult to observe by an onlooker close to the manipulator, than is the case with prior combinationlock dial constructions.

A further object of the present invention or discovery is the provision of such an improved combination lock dial construction which has a simplified construction and arrangement of its component parts, such parts being capable of economical manufacture and assembly, and the improved construction being capable of easy operation and easy and economical maintenance. 1

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the combination lock dial construction, parts, combinations, and sub-combinations, which comprise the present invention or discovery, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, and preferred embodiments of which, together with their mode of use, are set forth by way of example in the fol-lowing description, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the improved combination lock dial construction of the present invention or discovery may be stated in general terms as including a cupped dial index housing which has an inner end adapted for mounting on the front face of a vault door and the like. The housing includes a preferably frusto-conical body portion extending forwardly away from the front face of the vault door and a preferably inverted frusto-conical outer end wall extending inwardly and rearwardly from the outer end of the body portion and having formed therein a central opening.

The forward end of a combination setting shaft terminates within the stationary dial index housing. A dial shell is located within the index housing and is mounted pnthe forward end of the combination setting shaft. The I 7 2,858,692 Patented Nov. 4, a

ICE

portion extending outwardly from the hub, and a frustoconical rim portion extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the disk portion.

The disk portion of the rotary dial shell is adjacent the inner face of the housing frusto-conical end wall,'the disk portion of the dial shell and the housing end wall having similar conical angles. Also, the rim portion of the dial shell is adjacent the inner face of the housing frustoconical body portion, the rim portion and the frustoconical body portion having similar conical angles.

The housing frusto-conical body portion has formed therein an upper rectangular opening having side edges, The outer face of the housing body portion has inscribed therein a first set of index marks intersecting one of the opening edges and a second set of index marks intersecting the other opening edge. If any index mark of the'firs t set were prolonged in the direction of the marks of the second set, it would extend between a pair of the index marks of the second set. The outer face of the frustO- conical rim portion of the dial shell has inscribed therein a frusto-conical element line and a helix'turn line extending around the outer face of the frusto-conical rim portion between the ends of the element. Furthermore, the outer face of the frusto-conical rim portion has inscribed therein at its outer end adjacent the front edge of the opening in the index housing, a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced combination indicating element lines. Also the front end of the frusto-conical end wall of the index housing is formed with an index V-notch midway between the side edges of the opening.

Furthermore, there is provided a dial knob secured to the front end of the combination setting shaft, the dial knob extending through the central opening of the outer endwall of the index housing.

By way of example embodiments of the improved combination lockdial construction and parts thereof, of the present invention or discovery are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part here-of, in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, as on line 1-1, Fig. 2, of a vault door equipped with a combination lock including the improved dial construction of the present invention or discovery, the parts of the dial construction being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing two combination locks on the vault door, each combination lock being provided with the improved dial construction of the present invention or discovery, and the parts of each improved dial construction being shown in elevation.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings;

Each of the improved combination lock dial constructions, as shown in the drawings, is indicated generally by 10, and includes a stationary cupped dial index housing 11 which has an internally threaded inner end portion 12-, and the housing 11 is formed adjacent its inner end with a radially outwardly extending annular flange 13. The housing 11 furthermore includes a frusto-conical'body portion 14 extending forwardly from the flange 13 and an inverted or externally concave frusto-conical outer end wall 15 extending inwardly and rearwardly from the outer end of the body portion 14and having formed therein a central opening 16.

The forward end of a combination lock setting shaf 17 terminates within the stationary housing 11. A sleeve mounting head 18 is secured on the forward end ofthe shaft 17, and the front end face of the head 18.is located short of the front end face of the shaft 17. A dial. shell 19 is located within the index housingll, the dial shell .19

having a central hub 20 connected to the sleeve mounting head 18. The dial shell 19 furthermore includes a frustoconical disk portion 21 extending outwardly from the hub 20 and a frusto-conical rim portion 22 extending rearwardl-yfrom the outer periphery of the disk portion 21.

The frusto-con ical disk portion 21 of the rotary dial shell 19 is adjacent the inner face of the frusto-conical housing end wall 15, the disk portion 21 and end wall 15 having similar conical angles. Also, the frusto-conical rim port on 22 of the dial shell 19 is adjacent the inner face .of the frusto-conical housing body portion 14, the rim portion 22 and the body portion 14 having similar conical angles.

The housing frusto-conical body portion 14 has formed therein an upper rectangular opening 23 having side edges 24 -and 25 as shown in Fig. -2. The outer face of the body portion 14 has inscribed thereina set of spaced laterally extending index marks or lines 24-1 intersecting the opening edge 24, and a set of'spaced laterally extending index marks or lines 25-1 intersecting the opening-edge 25. -If any-index marks 24-1 were prolonged in the direction of the marksZS-I, it would-extend-between apair of the'index marks 25-1, that is to say, the index marks 24-I-and -25-1 are axially-off-set in relation to the axis of =rotation of "the rimjportion 22 -of dial shell 19, as shown in Fig. 2.

The outer face of-the frusto-conical rim portion 22 of the dial shell 19 has inscribed therein a frusto-conical element line-26 and a helix turn line 27 extending around the outer face of the frusto-conical rirn portion between the ends of the element line 26. Thus, the ends of the helix turn line 27 are off-set in an axial direction, as shown in Fig. 2.

The dial shell rimportion 22 also has inscribed in the front end of its outer face a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced combination setting element lines 28. The housing opening 23 has a front edge 29 extending slightly over the combination setting lines 28. The housing outer end wall 15 is formed with an upper V index notch '30, the lower --apex of which is in the vertical medianplane passingthrough the longitudinal axis of the -shaft 17.

A dial knob 31 is secured to the end of the shaft 17 and extends forwardly'through and beyond the opening :16- of the'housing 11.

Each of the improved fcornbination lock dial constructions '10, as above described, is operatively mounted on a vault door indicated generallyby 32.

The combination lock dial construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is the upperdial construction 10 shown in Fig. 3,-and inwhich there is also shown a lower dial :construction '10.

The vault door 32 includes a door front plate 33 'on th'etfront face of which is mounted for eachof the dial constructions 10, an annular mounting block 34, each rhaving-an externally threaded outer end portion35. On each of the externally threaded block outer end portions 35, there is screwed the internally threaded inner end portion 12 of one of the dial index housings 11. The door 32 also is provided with a front cover shell 36 having a front wall 37 in which are'formed upper and lower circular openings 38. Each opening'38receives the inner end portion of one of the index housings 11, the -annular 'flange 13 of which overlaps the front wall 37, asshown.

The door 32'also includes aback plate 39 on which is operatively mounted an upper combination lock 40 in- 'cludin'g a'n upper combination lock housing 41, and a lower combination lock 42 including a lower combination dock housing 43. Each of the combination locks 40 and 42 is of usual construction. The combination setting "shaft 17 of the upperdial construction 10 has an'operative'connection with the mechanism of-the upper com- ;bination lock 40 withinthe housing 41thereof; and the *combinationsetting-shaft 17 of the lower dial construction 10 has an operative connection with the mechanism of the lower combination lock 42 within the housing 43 thereof.

The operation of each of the improved combination lock dial constructions 10, is the same and is described with respect to Fig. 2 as follows:

As shown, there is a set of equally spaced index lines 24-1 intersecting the left edge 24 of the rectangular opening 23 formed in the frusto-conical body portion 14 of the dial index housing 11. Likewise, there is a set of index lines 25-1 intersecting the right edge 25 of the opening 23 in the housing body portion 14.

Each set of index lines 24-1 and 25-1 includes eleven 11) equally spaced lines, and there are ten (10) equal spaces in each set, between the laterally extending stationary housing index lines.

The frusto-conical element line 26 on the frusto-conical rim portion 22 of the rotary dial shell 19 has a length equal to the over-all length of one of the sets of laterally extending index lines which as shown is the right-hand set of lines 25-1.

The zero (0) setting of the dial shell .19 is as. shown in Fig. 2, in which the frusto-conical element line 26 is registered with the apex of the V index notch 30 formed in the housing outer end wall 15.

.The helix turn line 27 extends from the outer end of the frusto-conical element line 26 to the left as shown in Fig. 2 entirely around the dial shell rim portion 22 and terminates at the-rear end of the frusto-conical element line 26. Thus,-the ends of the helix turn line 27are-preferably axially aligned but axially ofi-set, providing the helix :turn line 27 with a pitch which is the distance the turn:line.moves axially inone complete revolution ofdial shell 19.

.Thespacing between each of the combination setting element lines 28 on the front end of the dial shell rim portion 22, is one-one hundredth .of the entireexternal circumference of the'frusto-conical dial shell rim portion22, that is to say-one-one hundredth of 360.

One'of'the combination setting lines 28 is aforward continuation of the frusto-conical element line 26, as shown in Fig. 2.

If,-from the position of the dialshell 19 shown in Fig. 2, the dial knob 31 is turned to the right a distance equal to ten;(10) spaces between the combination setting lines 28,the=helix'turn line .27 will move from a position in which it intersects the third line 25-1 from the rear to a position in which it:intersectsthe second line 25-1 from the rear.

Thus,-when the dial shell 19 is being rapidly turned, every time the helix turn line 27'traverses a space between a pair of the .laterally extending index lines 25-1, or 24-I,'one-tenth.( )of .a complete revolution of the dial shell 19has been made.

Thus, an authorized manipulator can-rapidly approach anyparticularsetting of the combination-settinglines'28 bywatching the helix turn line 27 as it sweeps across one of the sets of laterally extending index lines 24-1 or ,Each' finalspecific setting of the dial shell 19, is made by aligning one. .of the combination settinglines28 onthe diaLshell rim portion 22, with the lower apex of the is standing 'close'behindthe authorized manipulator.

Thus, the objects of the present invention and discovery are attained-by providing for rapid operation in setting any particular combination and by shielding 'of the dial and combination settings from an unauthorized person While the combinationis being set.

Fundamentally, where substantially all of the combination setting lines of a combination lock dial are concealed at all times by the housing, it is difiicult for an unauthorized person surreptitiously to observe the combination setting lines and the particular line dialed to the index notch while the combination is being dialed. This shielding of the combination setting lines so that only a few numbers are exposed at any time, however, would normally render it difiicult to-dial a proper combination rapidly because of the possibility of over-spinping, if the dial is rapidly rotated in one direction or another. I However, in the improved construction the helix turn line 27 when Watched with reference to the index lines 24-1 or 25-I permits rapid turning of the dial to the general location of the particular setting line 28 to be aligned with the index notch 30, and then the dial may be slowly turned to locate the selected setting line 28 exactly opposite the index notch 30.

'-The location of the rectangular opening 23, setting lines 28 and index lines 24-I and 25-1 at the top of the housing 14 requires the authorized person when setting a combination to stand very close to the dial mechanism and to view the lines by looking down at the top of the mechanism 10. This inherent requirement for operation necessarily prevents any unauthorized person from seeing the dial settings as the dial is being manipulated by an authorized person.

We claim:

1. Dial construction for a combination lock and the like supported on a mounting member having a front face, the dial construction including a'lock combination setting shaft adapted to be journalled in the mounting member and having a front end adapted to extend outwardly beyond the mounting member front face, a dial index housing engirdling the shaft and adapted to be supported on the mounting member front face, the housing including a body portion adapted to extend forwardly from the mounting member front face, the body portion having an opening formed therein, the opening having a front edge and laterally spaced side edges and a rear edge, the body portion having a front end portion having an external main index line formed therein, the main index line being located in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the shaft and intersecting the front edge of the opening, a dial member located within the housing and mounted on the front end of the shaft, the dial member including a rim portion rotatable beneath the openingin the housing body portion, the dial rim portion having an outer face with a front end having a plurality of combination indicating lines formed therein, the combination indicating lines on the dial rim portion outer face front end extending below the main index .line. on the housing, and eachcombination indicating line lying in a plane containing the combination setting shaft axis of rotation, and each combination inheating line being alignable with the main index line by rotation of the combination setting shaft, the housing body portion having an outer face, and the outer face of the housing body portion having formed therein a first set of spaced laterally extending index lines intersecting one of the side edges of the opening, and the outerface ofthe dial rim portion having formed therein an extension line, theextension line being aligned With one of the combinationindicating lines, and ,a helix turn line extending around the outer faceof the rim portion between the ends of the extension line, the length of the extension line being equal to the distance between the first and last laterally extending index lines of the first set.

2. Dial construction for a combination lock and the like supported on a mounting member having a front face, as set forth in claim 1, and in which the outer face edge, the body portion having a front end portion having of the housing body portion has formed therein a second set of spaced laterally extending index lines intersecting the other side edge of the opening, the first and last laterally extending index lines of the second set being spaced from each other a distance equal to the length of the extension line.

3. Dial construction for a combination lock and the like supported on a mounting member having a front face, the dial construction including a lock combination setting shaft adapted to be journalled in the mounting member and having a front end adapted to extend outwardly beyond the mounting member front face, a stationary dial index body engirdling the shaft and adapted to be supported on the mounting member front face, the dial index body being adapted to extend forwardly from the mounting member front face, the body having an opening formed therein, the opening having a front edge and laterally spaced side edges and a rear edge, the body having a front end having an external main index line thereon, the main index line being located in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the shaft and intersecting the front edge of the opening, a rotary'dial shell located within the body and mounted on the front end of the shaft, the dial shell including a rim portion rotatable beneath the opening in the body, the dial rim portion having an outer face with a front end having a plurality of combination indicating lines thereon, the combination indicating lines on the dial rim portion outer face front end extending below the main index line on the housing, and each combination indicating line lying in a plane containing the combination setting shaft axis of rotation, and each combination indicating line being alignable with the main index line by rotation of the combination setting shaft, the stationary dial index body having an outer face, and the outer face of the body having thereon a first set-of spaced laterally extending index lines intersecting one of the side edges of the opening, and the outer face of the dial rim portion having an extension .line thereon, the extension line being aligned With one of the combination indicating lines, and a helix turn line extending around the outer face of the rim portion between the ends of the extension line, the length of the extension line being equal to the distance between the first and last laterally extending index lines of the first set.

4. Dial construction for a combination lock and the like supported on a mounting member having a front face, as set forth in claim 3, and in which the outer face of the body has thereon a second set of spaced laterally extending index lines intersecting the other side edge of the opening, the first and last laterally extending index lines of the second set being spaced from each other a distance equal to the length of the extension line.

5. Dial construction for a combination lock and ,the like supported on a mounting member having a front face, the dial construction including a lock combination setting shaft adapted to be journaled in the mounting member and having a front end adapted to extend outwardly beyond the mounting member front face, a dial index housing engirdling the shaft and adapted to be supported on the mounting member front face, the housing including a body portion adapted to extend forwardly from the mounting member front face, the body portion having an opening formed therein, the opening having a front edge and laterally spaced side edges and a rear an external main index line formed therein, the main index line being located in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the shaft and intersecting the front edge of the opening, a dial member located within the housing and mounted on the front end of the shaft, the dial member including a rim portion rotatable beneath the opening in the housing body portion, the dial rim portion having an outer face with a front end having a plurality of combination indicating lines formed therein, the combination indicating dines :on the :dial rim-portion outer face from end extending below the main index lineon the housing, and each combination indicating line lying in a plane containing the combination setting shaft axis of rotation, and each combination indicating line being alignable with the main index line by rotation of the combination setting ,shaft, the housing body portion having an outer face, and the outer face of the housing body portion having formed therein a.fi1'st set of spaced laterally extending index lines intersecting one of the side edges of the opening, and the outer face of the housing body portion having formed therein a second set of spaced laterally extending index lines intersecting the other of the side edges of the opening, and the outer face of the dial rirn portion having formed therein-an extension line, the extension line being aligned with one of the combination indicating lines, and a helix turn line extending around the outer face of the rim portion between the ends of the extension line, the length of, the extension line being equal to the distance between the first and last laterally extending index lines of the first and second set, and-the laterally extending index lines of one of said first and second sets being positioned axially off-set in reference to the index lines of the other of said first and second sets.

:6. Dial construction having a combination lock and the like supported on a mounting member having a front face, the dial construction including a lock combination setting shaft adapted to be journaled in the mounting member and having a front end adapted to extend outwardly beyond the mounting member front face, a stationary dial index body eng irdling the shaft and adapted to be supported on the mounting member front face, the dial index body being adapted to extend forwardly from the mounting member front face, the body having an opening formed therein, the opening having a front edge and laterally spaced side edges vand a rear edge, the body having a front end having an external main index line thereon, the main index line being located in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the shaft and intersecting the front edge of the opening, a rotary dial shell located within the body and mounted on the front end o'fithe shaft, the dial shell including a rim portion rotatable beneath the opening in the body, the dial rim portion having an outer face with a front end having a plurality of combination indicating lines thereon, the combination indicating lines on the dial rim portion outer face front end extending below the main index line on the housing, and each combination indicating line lying :in a plane containing the combination setting shaft axis of rotation, and each combination indicating line being alignable with the main index line by rotation of the combination setting shaft, the stationary dial index body having an outer face, and the outer face of the body having thereon a first set of spaced laterally extending index lines intersecting one of the side edges of the opening, and the outer face of the body having thereon a second set of spaced laterally extending index lines intersecting the other of the side edges of the opening, and the outer face of the dial rim portion having an extension line thereon, the extension line being aligned with one of the combination indicating lines, and a helix turn line extending around the outer face of the rim portion be tween the ends of the extension line, the length of the extension line being equal to the distance between the first and last laterally extending index lines of the first and second set, and the laterally extending index lines of one of said first and second sets being positioned axially offset in reference to the index lines of the other of said first and second sets.

7. Dial construction for a combination lock and the like supported on a mounting member having a front face, the dial construction including a lock combination setting shaft adapted to be journaled in the mounting memher and having a front end, a dial index housing adapted to besupported at the mounting member front face, the housing including a body portion adapted toextendforwardly from the mounting member front face, the body portionhaving an opening formed therein, the opening having a front edge and laterally spaced side edges and a rear edge, the body portion having an externalmain index line formed thereon, the main index line indicating in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the shaft and intersectingan edge of the opening, a dial member located within the housing and mounted on thetfront end of the shaft, the dial member including a rim vportion rotatable beneath the opening in the housing body ,por tion, the dial member rimvportion having an outerface having a plurality of combination indicating lines formed thereon, the combination indicating lines on the dial member rim portion outer face extending below the main index line on the housing, and each combination indicating line lying in a plane containing the combination setting shaft axis of rotation, andeach combination indicating line being 'alignable with the main index line by rotation of the combination setting shaft, the housing body portion having an outer face, and the outerfface of the housing body portion having formed thereon a first set of spaced laterally extending lines intersecting one of the side edges of the opening, and the outer face of the dial member rim portion having formed thereon a helix turn line extending around the outer face of the rim portion and having ends, and the ends of the helix turn line being axially aligned in relation to the axis'of rota: tion of the dial member and being axially spaced a distance equal to the distance between the first and last laterally extending index lines of the first set.

8. Dial construction for a combination loclcand the like supported on a mounting member having a front face, as set forth in claim 7, and in which the outer face of the housing body portion has formed thereon a second set of spaced laterally extending index lines intersecting the other side edge of the opening, the first and last laterally extending index lines of the second set being spaced from each other a distance equal to the distance between the first and last laterally extending index lines of the first set.

9. Dial construction for a combination lock and the like supported on a mounting member having a front face, as set forth in claim 8, and in which the laterally extending index lines of one of said first and second sets are positioned axially off-set in reference to the index lines of the other of said first and second sets.

10. Dial construction for a combination lock andthe like supported on a mounting member having a front face, the dial construction including a lock combination setting shaft adapted to be journaled in the mounting member and having a front end, a dial index housing adapted to be supported at the mounting member front face, the housing including a body portion adapted to extend forwardly from the mounting member front face, the body portion having an opening formed therein, the opening having front edge and laterally spaced side edges and a rear edge, the body portion having an external main index line formed thereon, the main index line indicating in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the shaft and intersecting an edge of the opening, a dial member located within the housing and mounted onthe front end of the shaft, the dial member including a rim portion rotatable beneath the opening in the housing body portion, the dial member rim portion having an outer face having a plurality of combination indicating lines formed thereon, the combination indicating lines on the dial member rim portion outer face extending below the main index line on the housing, and each combination indicating line lying in a plane containing the combination setting shaft axis of rotation, and each, combination indicating line being alignable with the main index line by rotation of the combination setting shaft, the housing body portion having an outer face, and the outer face of the housing body portion having formed thereon a first set of spaced laterally extending index lines intersecting one of the side edges of the opening, and the outer face of the dial member rim portion having formed thereon a helix turn line extending in a generally circumferential direction on and substantially around the rim portion and having ends, and the ends of the helix turn line being axially oflf-set providing a helix turn line pitch, at least a pair of said spaced laterally extending index lines being axially spaced a distance equal to the helix turn line pitch, and the helix turn line being 10 positioned so that it will indicate on at least said pair of the laterally extending index lines upon rotation of the combination setting shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,855,947 Disbrow Apr. 26, 1932 2,195,782 Perritt Apr. 2, 1940 10 2,728,215 Bremer Dec. 27, 1955 

